With California advancing toward microplastic regulations, Everlane already offers a blueprint for the industry through its seven-year head start in sustainable material innovation.
The Everlane Recycled Collection features products crafted with certified recycled polyester and nylon, cutting reliance on virgin plastic while conserving natural resources and reducing the environmental footprint of raw material extraction.
Yet this collection is only one element of Everlane’s larger strategy. Since materials represent nearly 60% of a product’s environmental impact, Everlane has pledged that by the end of 2025, 100% of its materials will be certified recycled, organic, renewable, or responsibly sourced. The brand follows its own Preferred Materials Standards, which consider factors like greenhouse gas emissions, water use, chemical toxicity, and traceability to ensure informed sourcing choices.
Applying a precautionary principle, Everlane tackles microplastic risk by focusing on reducing synthetics at the source. Synthetic fibers are restricted to rarely washed items (e.g., bags, outerwear, footwear) or areas where scalable, high-performance alternatives do not exist. The brand also collaborates with research institutions to refine microplastic mitigation strategies, both upstream in the supply chain and at the finished product stage.
Everlane’s measurable progress includes:
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96% of polyester and nylon materials are certified recycled
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Less than 10% of total materials are synthetics, half of which are used in durable, low-wash products (bags, outerwear, footwear) with lower microplastic shedding risks
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100% virgin plastic–free packaging
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90% reduction in virgin plastic across the entire supply chain
By contrast, industry benchmarks reveal a lag:
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Only 0.3% of textiles globally come from recycled sources (Circularity Gap Report – Textiles)
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87% of synthetic fiber production is virgin, with just 13% recycled (Textile Exchange, 2024)
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45–55% of packaging still relies on virgin plastic (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)
Everlane’s leadership demonstrates how fashion can balance growth and responsibility, serving as a case study for the wider industry.
As a reminder, Katina can speak to:
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Everlane’s strategy to limit synthetic fibers to specific categories
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Lessons learned in transitioning to recycled synthetics
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Implications of California’s proposal for fashion and beyond
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Everlane’s leadership as an industry case study
